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Tool Kits
Hey Everyone
I am starting to put in my orders for xmas with the minister for fun and finance (wife). Was wanting some feedback on the better tool kits to buy so that can do a lot of my own maintenance.I recently changed the gear cables but wanted to expand my self maintenance repertoire. I have a had a brief look at the usual suspects online but not realy sure where to start. Some of the jobs I wanted to tackle include; brakes, hubs, headset, shocks and possibly the BB.
Any feedback from those that currently do thier own maintenance would be greatly appreciated
JHT
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I have a 'Union' bike tool kit. And it's very average.
I've used the set to change chains, BB, cassettes, etc. It does the job - no complaints. But I wouldn't class the tools as 'quality'. Torpedo 7 has the set for $40 from time to time.
I would definitely recommended getting a work stand for you bike. The one i have is a cheap ebay thing that does the job but doesn't hold the bike level. I'm sure one around the $120mark would be ok.
Hello,
I have been through the same decisions recently - I have chosen an X-Tools 18 piece toolkit (from CRC) and it was a good choice, but I had to purchase a few other special tools as well: a torque wrench _with_ the bits (I bought them separately and they were not compatible, so now I have around three bit sets - also make sure you have the Torx bits as well for removing brake discs, etc), cramp tool for cutting the brake/gear cables.
My view is that it is worth buying quality tools as they can be with you for 10+ years without any problems.
I also recommend the "Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance" if you are like me and just starting out doing your own maintenance, it has got lots of useful practical advice...
Zoltan
Currently sitting at the dining room table looking at my disassembled xtr 785 pedal .... to which I have mildly butchered the gold lock nut from using a crap shifter to get it apart.
Definitely need a good tool kit. Park Tool are supposed to be the gun ones. Got my eye on this one from CRC
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?M...
Santa - u reading this?????
+1 for a good work stand. Just got the Park Tool PCS10. Looks superb and works even better..... This is not a paid advertisement from Park Tool
but if any PT rep is out there and wants me to trial anything.. Happy to oblige.
I invested in the parktool PCS9.
Quite good. The height adjustment doesn't have a quick release... That's my only criticism. But I don't change the height often anyway.
A brake bleed kit is essential. I made my shimano bleed kit from oxygen tubing (from work / hospital), 10ml syringe & a clothes peg as a block. Works fine.
Good tools are always a good investment. I started playing around with cars. I bought a sidchrome toolbox I spent $350 almost 30 years ago. I still have some of those tools today.(the ones I havent lost). I'm not suggesting to get Sidchrome. But I'm suggesting there s no harm in invesing in good quality tooling.
I have a very simple toolbox for my bike. The only thing I havent done is the factory rebuild of forks. The toolbox I have is compact easy to transport & has the tools to be able to do 99% of repairs when required. Be it at the race or at home.
I have something like this.
http://www.bicyclestore.com.au/icetoolz-pronto-t...
but a full comprehensive one like the one above would be very nice
That IceToolz kit is almost identical to the Torpedo7 one that I have and others have talked about... same spoke key and other tools, might even be by the same OEM in China or Taiwan.
The wheel hub cone spanners try to cover too many different sizes in one, and as a result are too soft and flexy: much too easy to round off the flats on the cone and then you're in real trouble. Again, I'd find the correct sized Park one and buy two of them.
The rest of the tool kit is fine, though. You need to be careful though ... I end up being the team bike mechanic at most of the events I go to. I suppose the advantage is that I often get to figure out what to do on other people's bikes first before I bugger up my own
Another item that's been handy over the years is the Alligator universal brake bleed kit. It helped keep Hans out of trouble a couple of times
I decided to go quality a couple of years ago and I purchased this one from Park Tool - http://www.parktool.com/product/advanced-mechani... I also bought the Park Tool Big Blue book as well - http://www.parktool.com/product/big-blue-book-of...
I figure they're the only tools I'll ever need to buy. One thing missing for me though is a repair stand. Must get one of those. At the moment I hang my bike up on one of the supports for the garage door.
Thanks to all that replied, I already have Zinn and the art of bike maintenance but it looks like I need to add a bike stand to the wish list.
The AK37 seems to be the popular choice if any one has other opinions I happy to hear them.
Thanks again
JT